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COVID-19 Resources for Youth & Family Wellness

These are unusual, difficult times for young people and families. Fortunately, there are many resources available to those who need assistance during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) public health emergency. We’ve collected some of them here to help youth and families stay healthy, keep up with their bills, and make sure their needs are being met. Thank you to Milwaukee Christian Center for helping us collect this information. Submit your resource to lkaiser@communityadvocates.net.

Community Advocates

Community Advocates’ sites are closed to the public during the Coronavirus public health emergency, but we are still providing services by phone and email, and our supportive housing and emergency shelter are still operating 24/7 with appropriate safety precautions. Some ways you can contact us:

Call: 414-270-2941

Email: Contact Us

Click: Details on How We're Providing Services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Click: Basic Needs Resources during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

 

Domestic Violence Services

Services for those who have experienced domestic violence are still available around the clock:

Call: Milwaukee Women’s Center’s 24/7 Crisis Line: 414-671-6140

Call: In an Emergency Situation: 911

Call: Sojourner Family Peace Center 24-Hour Hotline: 414-933-2722

Click: Sojourner Family Peace Center: Guidance on Filing Electronic TROs

 

Emergency Shelter

You can get a place in an emergency shelter and other resources by contacting Impact 2-1-1. Impact has temporarily suspended face-to-face appointments but they are conducting appointment by phone at the designated appointment time.

Click: Impact 2-1-1 or Impact’s Contact Information during COVID-19 Emergency

Call: 2-1-1 or 866-211-3380

Text: Text your zip code to 898-211

 

Milwaukee County Energy Assistance

All energy assistance application sites are closed to the public but appointments are being taken by phone. As of March 30, the program will only need to look at one month of the applicant's income. Schedule your appointment by calling or emailing:

Call: 414-270-4653

Click: KeepWarmMKE.org

 


Community Advocates Help for Renters

It’s important to keep paying your rent and utilities if you can so that you don’t face eviction or disconnection down the line. Here’s what you need to know:

Call: Rent HelpLine 414-270-4646

Email: renthelp@communityadvocates.net

Click: Tips for Milwaukee Tenants During COVID-19

 

Community Advocates Help for Landlords

Your tenants may be going through a hard time during the COVID-19 public health emergency, so it’s important to stay in contact with them to prevent problems from developing. Here’s how you can do it:

Call: Rent HelpLine 414-270-4646

Email: renthelp@communityadvocates.net

Click: Tips for Milwaukee Landlords During COVID-19

 

Resources for Families

The Parenting Network’s Parent HelpLine: 414-671-0566

Free, confidential coaching for parenting issues. Experienced parent coaches respond weekdays, Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. After hours, Impact 211 responds.

Wisconsin Department on Children and Families: COVID-19 Child Care Request for Essential Workforce Families

 

Basic Needs Assistance

Covering Wisconsin: COVID-19 Page

HealthWatch Wisconsin: COVID-19 Page

Hunger Task Force: COVID-19 Page

Hunger Task Force: Milwaukee County Emergency Food Sites Map

Impact 211: Referrals to emergency shelter and additional services and resources

Milwaukee Public Schools: COVID-19 Updates

State of Wisconsin ACCESS: to connect with health care coverage, paying for groceries or child care costs, finding a job, or building your career skills

MCTS Transit System: COVID-19 Page

 

Health & Mental Health Resources

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty

CDC: COVID-19 and Stress and Coping

CDC COVID Fact Sheets in Multiple Languages

Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Page

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic: How to Cope in a Crisis 

Milwaukee County: COVID-19 Dashboard

City of Milwaukee Health Department: COVID-19 Page

Mayo Clinic: COVID-19 and Your Mental Health

Mental Health America: Mental Health and COVID-19 Information and Resources

Mental Health America Webinars on COVID-19 Mental Health and Wellness

Mental Health America: Crisis Text Line: Text MHA to 741741 to be connected to a crisis counselor 24/7.

Disaster Distress Helpline:

  • English: 1-800-985-5990
  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing: Text TalkWithUs to 66746; use your preferred relay services to call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990; TTY 1-800-846-8517
  • Spanish: Call 1-800-985-5990 and press “2”; from the 50 States, text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663; from Puerto Rico, text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663; click here for more information

Meta House: Recovery Resources

Milwaukee Coalition of Children's Mental Health: COVID-19 Resources

NAMI: COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide (Updated)

National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from COVID-19 (Resources in English and Spanish)

Rogers InHealth: COVID-19 Compassion in Action

SAMHSA: Virtual Recovery Resources

Sesame Street in the Community: Resources for Kids Whose Parents Are in Recovery

The Trevor Project: Helpline for LGBTQ+ Youth: 1-866-488-7386

UC-Davis: Coronavirus: Mental Health and Wellness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

Employment Resources

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development COVID-19 information

Unemployment COVID-19 Public Information

Employment and Training COVID-19 Public Information

Worker’s Compensation COVID-19 Public Information

Vocational Rehabilitation COVID-19 Public Information

Equal Rights COVID-19 Public Information

 

Financial Resources

Financial Navigators Program: Receive free support over the phone from a Financial Navigator who is trained to link callers with referrals and resources to navigate all types of needs related to financial stability.

UW-Madison Extension: Financial Resources to Help Get through COVID-19

UW-Madison Extension: Recursos financieros que le pueden ayudar durante la pandemia de COVID-19

 

Free Internet & Phone Data

Spectrum is offering free 60 days of internet to anyone with school closings due to the coronavirus. There are no other requirements or documents needed. Just call 844-488-8395. 

FCC agreement stating that providers will waive late fees, not cut off service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots.

Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time

Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months

AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families

Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers, but following the FCC agreement.

Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.

T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.

 

Youth Development Resources

Milwaukee PBS Online Learning Schedule and Educational Resources

Safe and Sound’s Daily Plug-in

Youth-focused Zoom + Facebook Live discussion everyday at 3 p.m.

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems

Simple daily art lessons on Facebook led by artist from the Kennedy Center for the Arts.

Milwaukee Public Library: Digital Resources

Joshua Smith Daily Puppet Shows: Great for younger children

Milwaukee native uses puppets to discuss COVID-19 and being home from school. Check out the adventures of puppets Gizmo, Jamal, Commander Cluck, and Brother Joshua every day 10-10:30 a.m. via Facebook live.

10 Family Card Games that Support Early Math Skills

Secure Futures: Online financial literacy courses for teens

Last updated: April 9, 2020